Particularly for designers and other non-analysts, ease of use continues to be a top issue with analysis and simulation software. Some vendors address the issue with simplification of complex functions, the use of open standards, and process simplification.

“The revolution continues to be in the simplification of complex user functions,” said Jim Spann, vice president of marketing for Blue Ridge Numerics. “The technology still has some barriers for some design engineers, but I think the biggest barrier is process. Most companies have decades-old processes that don’t leverage CAE in an efficient, profitable manner,” he added.

“For the dedicated analyst, there is a constant search for tools that improve productivity, enhance real-world fidelity, and provide capabilities for larger models and more complicated geometry,” explained David Weinberg, president and CEO of Noran Engineering. “For the designer, virtual testing continues to become more attractive as it becomes more accessible from both a cost and ease-of-use standpoint,” he said.

“Simulation and analysis software has become more user friendly, particularly for CAD users,” said Michael Bussler, president and CEO of ALGOR, Inc. “FEA and simulation have become increasingly accepted as part of the design process. More than ever, design engineers are using CAE software as a tool for verifying, improving, and optimizing product designs.”

Vince Adams, analysis products manager for SolidWorks Corp., agrees that analysis tools are becoming more integrated with CAD, making them easier for designers to use. “Design analysis tools are becoming more integrated into the CAD environment, which removes one impediment to expanded use: changing user interfaces. Analysis will get much more mindshare if a design engineer doesn’t have to break stride through translations and program changes. Design engineers are perfectly capable of learning more advanced FEA-centric interfaces — they just don’t have time,” Adams explained.

By more tightly integrating FEA and other analysis capabilities, vendors are able to ease the transition from design to analysis. “The advantages to users at the CAD design stage are a familiar environment and tools for developing their model,” said Weinberg. “Full associativity with FEA data offers ‘what-if’ studies on part changes that can be done quickly and easily with highly accurate Nastran results.”

Simpler user interfaces, particularly Windows®-based interfaces, are also helping with ease of use. “Interfaces between CAD and analysis tools continue to improve, and the integration is becoming tighter,” said Svante Littmarck, president and CEO of COMSOL, Inc. “The rise of desktop environments also helps, particularly for multiphysics simulations.”